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Changes needed to make leap in standings next year

Changes needed to make leap in standings next year

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By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- The Red Sox and Indians serve as the White Sox model for hope as work continues this offseason to reshape this team for 2014. After all, the Red Sox improved 28 games prior to Sunday's finale and the Indians had jumped up 23.

That move from worst to first won't just happen through the White Sox desire to be good or due to their talented young pitching staff at the core. General manager Rick Hahn and his staff have some moves to make.

"I'd like to point out that the Red Sox signed three or four prime players," said Gordon Beckham, pointing to additions such as Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes for the American League East champs. "We'd have to do that to be in the same league and I don't know if we will.

"I will say we have a good pitching staff and some good players we've added. [Avisail] Garcia is a stud. Some people did some things we can build off of. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it's faint right now. Any team can go from worst to first, but more things have to happen than just hoping to show up next year to win. It can't be as bad as this year, but it can if you don't do your work."

"At this point, you hope that's going to happen, but we're different than we left Spring Training with this year," Ventura said. "We've added some younger players here at the end that we didn't have leaving Spring Training this year.

"So, again, we're going to see how that goes and try and make some adjustments here and there and hopefully get some players in here that can turn this around. That's the idea, and the ones that are here, make better."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.